Kyocera Corporation has announced the release of the new rafre washable smartphone for KDDI Corporation. The product is a successor to the original DIGNO rafre, which launched in December 2015. In addition to resistance against foaming hand soap, the second-generation model possesses resistance to foaming body soap. The product will be available from March 2017 in Japan, and will be offered in three colors: Pale Pink, Clear White and Light Blue. Like its predecessor, the new rafre features resistance to hot water and a touchscreen that be can be used even when the user's hands are wet or when wearing gloves. Furthermore, the new handset is equipped with a special cooking app which allows users to scroll through recipes, set timers and answer calls through hand gestures without having to touch the display. This allows use of the smartphone while users' hands are coated with cooking ingredients. The new rafre can be easily washed when it becomes dirty and possesses resistance to hot water, thus allowing use in the kitchen or while relaxing in the bathtub. Furthermore, because the touchscreen display can be operated even when the screen or the user's hands are wet, the smartphone can be used in settings involving water or on rainy days. With the app, users can carry out various operations through hand gestures without having to touch the display. Simple hand movements allow users to scroll through recipes, set timers and even answer calls without having to touch the device. Kyocera's propriertary image-processing AINOS Engine enables users to take clear photos in low-light conditions. The camera is also equipped with phase Detection AF for quick focusing, and Auto HDR which enables automated clear shooting by recreating light and shade in detail. With a high-capacity, long-life battery, users get peace of mind when away from chargers for a long period of time. Kyocera's proprietary Smart Sonic Receiver technology uses vibrations to transmit sound to the eardrum via the phone's display. Users do not need to worry about correctly positioning the device's speaker hole against the ear, and can also hear sounds (or voices) better even in noisy environments by fully covering the ear with the phone's display. When the alarm clock rings the handset simultaneously reads out the weather forecast for the day. Users can also change settings so that the alarm goes off earlier on days with forecasted rain, thus mitigating potential delays and allowing better time management. The handset features a Blue Light Cut app for ease on the eyes and reduction of eye fatigue during prolonged usage.